economics of on-farm development - Institute for Social and ...

The concept <strong>of</strong> "Incidental Benefits" approach as discussed in Dhawan (1998)
has been used to explain the phenomenon <strong>of</strong> 'canal seepage induced'
groundwater potential for irrigation exploited by the farmers by the farmers in
the Peechi Irrigation Project. The conventional life-cycle approach to project
evaluation has been used to explain the phenomenon <strong>of</strong> cost and time oveT-Tuns
and delays in completion <strong>of</strong> the irrigation projects,
3,2 Relevance <strong>of</strong> OFD
The concept, On-Farm Development (OFD) is widely understood in irrigation
development and water management literature as the process <strong>of</strong> land
development for the smooth flow <strong>of</strong> water in the field leading to its uniform and
efficient application in the crop root zone, ensuring the growth <strong>of</strong> the plant.
According to the Central Water Commission (ewC), "On-Farm Development
(OFD) is an integrated process <strong>of</strong> leveling and shaping the land for smooth flow
<strong>of</strong> water, constructing field irrigation channels. providing drainage facilities.
forming the farm roads and realigning the field boundaries through appropriate
consolidation <strong>of</strong> holdings". Since land and water are the critical factors in the
agricultural production process. efficiency <strong>of</strong> water use or efficiency <strong>of</strong> an
irrigation system (irrespective <strong>of</strong> scale) and the resultant efficiency <strong>of</strong> crop
production system is largely determined by the way in which land is developed
and managed, Given this, the concept <strong>of</strong> OFD has much wider implications in the
agricultural development <strong>of</strong> any region (both under rainfed and irrigated
conditions) and its relevance cut across natural, physical and social sciences.
Various agronomic practices involving scientific land development and water
management at the farm level results in increase in crop yield and sustainability
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